Special Election in MA to Cost Millions

Officials say it is expected to cost the State of Massachusetts at least $13.5 million to hold the special election to fill the US Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State John Kerry. The special election has been classified by State Auditor Suzanne Bump’s office as an “unfunded local mandate,” meaning the state must reimburse local communities for the costs they incur. Bump has estimated it will cost cities and towns nearly $8.3 million dollars to run the April 30th primary and June 25th final election. Secretary of State William Galvin has told lawmakers he will be asking for an appropriation to cover election-related costs to his office.

“We have an election that I’m telling you is going to cost at least $5 million to run. How much more than that are we going to have to spend on it? The answer is some more, yes, because cities and towns deserve some more money.”

And to save money, a supplemental budget bill has now been enacted allowing municipalities to move local elections to the same date as the special senate election.

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